Metrorex union leader: “There are rather a lot of women in charge”

The president of the Unitatea – Free Metro Trade Union (USLM), Marian Artimon, made sexist remarks on Wednesday while criticizing Metrorex management for the financial situation in which the transport company finds itself. “There are rather too many women leading and making decisions for the metro today,” Artimon said, without explaining how this would affect Metrorex’s economic situation.

The union leader immediately continued with criticism of the company’s management, emphasizing that “we have started managing economically instead of managing technically.”

Metrorex trade unionists warn that train traffic could be halted starting September 12 if the company’s budget and the subsidy for September are not approved. Employees risk not receiving their salaries on time, given that, according to the president of the Unitatea – Free Metro Trade Union (USLM), Marian Artimon, there may be only 3,000 lei left in the company’s accounts.

He also claimed that the funds for the subsidy were exhausted at the end of August or the beginning of September. He maintains that Metrorex sent the request for the subsidy for September to the Ministry of Finance late, while the lack of an approved budget is preventing the company from being financed.

The union leader stated that if salaries are delayed by more than three days, employees could resort to actions that would affect train traffic. He added that approximately 300 drivers could request leave if payment is not made by September 16.

The union also complains about the staff shortage. Metrorex has 5,922 approved positions, but operates with 4,934 employees, while drivers reportedly have approximately 11,000 days of unused leave. The company and the authorities have not yet announced a final solution for approving the budget and granting the subsidy.